Bagwell expected to announce retirement Friday

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, December 14, 2006

Jeff Bagwell, arguably the greatest player in Astros history, is expected to announce his retirement from baseball at a news conference that's been scheduled for Friday morning at Minute Maid Park.

Bagwell's retirement has been expected since his bum right shoulder forced him off the field during spring training earlier this year. He never played in the regular season, and the Astros didn't pick up his contract for 2007.

Though he hasn't played in more than a year, Bagwell has waited to announce his retirement until he and the Astros could work out a personal services contract that will keep him active in the organization in various capacities for years to come.

The Astros wouldn't confirm the nature of the press conference, but Bagwell, owner Drayton McLane and general manager Tim Purpura will be present.

"We've been working through several things with Jeff for over a year, and tomorrow's going to be a big day for Houston Astros and Jeff Bagwell," McLane said.

Bagwell, 38, is a career .297 hitter with 449 home runs, 1,529 RBIs and 202 steals in 2,150 games. The 1991 National League Rookie of the Year and 1994 NL Most Valuable Player, he is the only first baseman and one of only 10 players to hit 400 homers and steal 200 bases.

Bothered by an arthritic right shoulder since 2001, Bagwell decided to have surgery midway through the 2005 season a move he said was a last-ditch effort to save his career.

He returned to a pinch-hitting role later that season and started two games at designated hitter for the Astros in the 2005 World Series, but missed all of last season after not being able to endure spring training.

The Astros will head to court next year over the insurance claim they filed to recoup $15.6 million of his $17 million salary for 2006 because Bagwell was deemed disabled. Bagwell will receive a $7 million buyout for 2007.